R.I. Foundation calls for Innovation Fellows applications

By Patricia Daddona PBN Staff Writer

The Rhode Island Foundation announced Tuesday that it will begin accepting applications for the 2014 Rhode Island Innovation Fellowships, an annual program intended to stimulate solutions to the state’s challenges.

R.I. Foundation calls for Innovation Fellows applications

PHILANTHROPISTS LETITIA (left) and John Carter (center) talk with 2013 Rhode Island Innovation Fellowship recipient Lynn Taylor, who will receive up to $300,000 for her proposal to eradicate Hepatitis C in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Foundation announced Tuesday that it has begun accepting applications for the 2014 awards, which will award two applicants up to $300,000 over three years to develop solutions to the state's challenges.

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Foundation announced Tuesday that it will begin accepting applications for the 2014 Rhode Island Innovation Fellowships, an annual program intended to stimulate solutions to the state’s challenges.

The program awards two applicants up to $300,000 over three years to develop, test and implement innovative ideas that have the potential to dramatically improve any aspect of life in Rhode Island. The grants were made possible through the vision and generosity of philanthropists Letitia and John Carter.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for those with bold ideas. Thanks to the foresight of Letitia and John Carter, big thinkers now have the chance to convert their concepts to action,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO.

Preference will be given to proposals that promise the greatest good for the greatest number of Rhode Islanders, a small idea that has big potential to be built to scale or new approaches to longstanding, intractable challenges.

“Letitia and I believe strongly in the promise of our state and the importance of innovation. We hope this will generate creative proposals with the potential to lead to great things,” said John Carter.

Although applicants do not have to be residents of Rhode Island when they apply, they must commit to living in Rhode Island during the term of the fellowship if selected.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 13. The application and answers to frequently asked questions are posted at www.rifoundation.org/innovation. Award winners are expected to be announced in April.

Steinberg will chair the selection committee. The other committee members are David M. Dooley, president of the University of Rhode Island; Ann-Marie Harrington, president of Embolden; Charlie Kroll, president and CEO of Andera Inc., Marie Langlois, retired managing director of Washington Trust Investors; Lisa Utman Randall, executive director of the Jamestown Arts Center; and Don Stanford, chief innovation officer of GTECH.

This will be the third round of funding for the Rhode Island Innovation Fellowships. Previous rounds generated more than 600 applications. Soren Ryherd and Allan Tear received the inaugural grants in 2012. The 2013 fellows are Adrienne Gagnon and Dr. Lynn Taylor.

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